democracy and social justice were sub-themes of the two-hour chat this enigmatic activist, teacher and learning enthusiast engaged with in eugene last night. ayers, who has been a major figure in the chicago educational community for years, defined democracy as "the idea that every human being is of incalculable value."

from there, he says, education becomes about communicating the message of an enormous intrinsic value to everyone, both adults and children. we are empowered to do such things, says ayers, when we are exposed to a history of what their people has been and possibilities for who they can become.

now this is the sort of nonsense that you can't just write a philosophical proof for. it's exactly the kind of nonsense i want to practice.